Christmas Gifts to Cherish

Christmas Day was a very special day, the weather was only about 24 deg, we had both our children home with us, after opening our presents we all attended our local church before dining out for Christmas Lunch at a local restaurant. The meal was so yummy and the company great, no food to prepare and no cleaning up, what a easy way to spend the day. In the evening we took the jet sky down to the local dam for a quick spin. It was a very relaxing day, spent with my most precious friends, my family, plus lots of phone calls to other family members spread all around Australia.
I was so spoilt receiving some totally beauitful gifts from friends, I will try and share a few with you.
These gifts are from a very special friend, Betty, we have been swapping secret Santa gifts with each other for the past 6 or 7 years, each year we make about 6 small presents for each other. I was lucky enough to receive this stunning 1& 1/2m table runner along with some great other gifts. Usually we make each other a main present ( queen size quilt) but this year we both didn't get around to our challenge of a quilt using 3 dimensional patchwork.

This is the Secret Santa swap I received from Anna Ida from Norway through ChookyBlue, a table runner based on a Viking Ship, its just so special, I will have to find a special spot in my home for it, thank you Anna, I love it.

These are the wonderful gifts I received from Helen,QLD, from our Prim treasures secret Santa from our online chat group, I adore all of them, thanks so much Helen.

Anyway, I really need to sit down and catch up on my journalling on my 365 quilt challenge, my next post will be my 150th post, (can't rush these things) so I think I will have to have a give away, so stayed tuned, until then stay safe.
Kerry

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone, were ever you maybe around this wonderful world of ours, I do hope you all have a Christmas filled with lots of love and laughter, my Christmas tree has many interesting parcels under it, surprise packages from all over that I am so looking forward to opening first thing in the morning. I will try and remember to take some photos to share with you all after I have opened all of my surprise parcels.
Once again wishes to you all and may God bless and keep you safe and healthy over this Christmas period, may friends and family fill your lives with joy and happiness.
Merry Christmas
Kerry

Another lovely day had by all

Yesterday was our Christmas party for Tuesday class, what a lovely day we had. This year we ran a secret santa, so we were all blessed to receive a wonderful hand made gift from our secret partner. All the presents were so gorgeous, everyone went to lots of thought and trouble to make something special for their partner. This is a group photo of us all with our gifts, except Maryanne who had to work and Sharon who was determined to make it, but someone else had other plans, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy the day before. We will excuse her for that.
I could share lots of photos of the day, maybe another time.
There are still more Christmas pressies to make and work to be done, so until next time stay safe,
Kerry

The candles on my Mantle

This is another of my decorated areas in my home, in the dining room we have a fire place and each year I love to decorate the mantle piece, we don't need to use the fire over Christmas as it can be extremely hot at this time of the year in Australia. I have once again used lots of Candles, 5 across the top of the mantle. The mixture of candles and fairy lights makes my home very magical when it is all lit up at night.
Tomorrow is our last weekly class for the year, there should be 17 of us here to celebrate Christmas together and to swap a gift in our secret santa swap, I will try and remember to take lots of photos to share with you all,
Until then
Kerry

Christmas Decorations

Last week I managed time to decorate my home with all of my Christmas decorations, which add up to a few boxes worth. This is just a simple photo of the hall table near my back entrance, I have an old table runner I made using Debbie Mumm fabrics on the table , with a chain of gold stars over it then the candles on there stand, behind are several wall hangers that have been given to me by friends over the years. It looks great and adds a Christmas welcome to guests as they enter our home. (When you live on a farming property in Australia we usually use the back door as the main entrance to the house) I have other clusters of decorations around our home and will share some more later.
Each year I make lots of handmade gifts to share with frineds, this year is no exception, over the past week I have been on a roll. I decided I would make virtually the same gift for each of my friends, something that they could all use. Once I have completed them ....only the hand sewing to go... I will share some photos.
Until then stay safe
Kerry

Christmas Gathering

Every year at this time I hold my annual Christmas Gathering in store for any of my customers that would like to spend the day with myself and like minded friends. I supply them with a small kit that they can sit and hand stitch, while chatting, laughing, enjoying yummy food and just relaxing in the company of friends. Numbers were down a bit on last year, but we had 25 wonderful ladies who attended the day. Our project for the day was a cute ginger bread swag that I designed, as well as the stitching we enjoyed lunch in my garden and viewed some of the quilts, bags and dolls that were made by the ladies during the year.
Everyone was asked to bring along a hand made Christmas Decoration to go under the tree as a Christmas swap, there were some absolutey stunning decorations, many of them I have added to my to do list.
It is just my way of saying thank you to my valued customers and at the same time gathering together a wonderful group of ladies. We all had a great day, thanks to all those that visitored for the day, I enjoyed it greatly.
And a huge thank you to my parents who so kindly helped me out in the kitchen.
For all those that didn't make it, sorry you missed a terrific day, maybe we might see you here next year.
Kerry

Church Quilt Finished

In November the Church I attend here in Nundle turned 100 years old, it is a gorgeous little church in the main street, I decided a few months back that I would like to make a quilt (wallhanging) to celebrate this special occasion, something that depicts Nundle and the surrounding area. Something that can hang in the Church and be admired by locals and visitors, hopefully it will still be hanging for the next 100 years. I am extremely happy with the finished result, photos never do quilts justice. For those of you who have been here probably can see that it does remind you of Nundle, the mountains in the background, the green sloping hills,sheep & cattle grazing the country side,right down to the beautiful coloured leaves that line the main street each Autumn.
God has blessed me to live in this beautiful part of the world so this is a little bit of me in return.
Kerry